Signaling device



Feb. 14, 1939. v. CRANFORD 2,147,010

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1937 s Sheets-Shet 1 INVEN TOR l/fczorfmnfom BY Z Z TORNEYS Feb. 14, 1939. v4 CRANFORD SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2'7, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BYM %%/AT ORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1939 D sTAT ESE.

FATE NZT o-FFrcE SIGNALING DEVICE This invention relates to .s. g aling devices for.

vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks, trains, streekcars, boats, and .thelike, and'particularly. to a signalfdevice for indicating a contemplated. 5 change in course ofjsuch a, vehicle references herein to change in course'of a vehicle being.

understood to include botha change, in direction or,a change in speed, such as a right turn, left turn, slowing, or stopping.

I One of the particular objectsoithe invention is to providea signal device .adaptedior useon an enclosed vehicle, and which in signalingmpositionl projects. outwardly fromthe. vehicle body into view, but which when in non-signalin position.

1:5 isretraeted within the vehicle body.

A further. object of the invention is. to, .provide, a 7 signal. device provided with an advantageous operating mechanism adapted. to provide arapi l.

movement of thesignaling element to. signaling position and including a.selflcontained'arresting member adapted to arrest the. movement of, ,such

element when the. signaling position is reached; A further object of theinvention is'toprovidez;

asignal device adapted for selective operative associationwith a pluralityof operating members, w ere a s le s nal le en is em l yed to es blishj ne o .aplur l tyo v ua na indications, in response to the independent-operation oi one of saidoperating members. A further object of. the invention is to provide 'a signaling device for a motor vehicleiprovided I with an internal combustion. engine, which is associated with the intake manifold of 'such.internal combustion engine in suchimannernthat 'the reduced pressure in such manifoldjis employed.

prise a semaphore arrnpivotally mounted for.

movement about a horizontalaxis between a plug. rality of signal-indicating positions, and operat 45 ing means associated with said semaphore armito cause movement thereof between suchj positions,

said semaphore arm. being preferably disposed within the body portionof the vehicle with which the device is associated in such manner as to be 50 substantially concealed from view when in nonindicating position, and to move into view into the respective signal indicating positions. The op.* erating meanspreferably comprises a plurality of vacuum responsive cylinder means provided with."

55 piston elements operatively A connected with" the semaphore arm, suitable valve means being pro.- vided for associating a particular one of said cylinders with the vacuum supply to cause move ment of the semaphore arm into the desiredfsig? nal indicating position. Suitable control means" 5 for, suchv valve means are also provided; such as that'shown inmy 'copendingapplication; Ser: No. 23560; filed? May; 2'7, 1935, now Patent" No:- 2,1D3;247". This application" is animprovement of the aforesaid application; 7 and" pertains par 10 ticularly to the semaphore andsemaphore oper= ating means with which' such a control device" may be used.

Other. objects and features of the invention-will be brought out'in'the following'description of'a- 15 preferred embodiment" thereof, as shown" in the accompanying drawings, and; referring thereto? Fig 1 is a'phantom-view'of 'anautomobile provided with a .signal means according 'to' this in vention; 20

2 is a* transverse sectional detail thereof; taken on' line 2 2- in Fig: 1, showing-how-the semaphore arm means may be disposed within the body; structure of thevehicle;

Fig-:3 isa-plan view'of a form-of vacuum' actu' atedpperating-means useful for effecting the' de-' sired movement of the semaphore member;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section-thereof takemon-linei -4* in Fig. 3; r Fig.-5 is -a longitudinal vertical section thereof; 30 taken online 5-5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 'is avertical section-of the semaphoremeans; takenon line (E -6 in Fig. 2 showing the semaphore in :non-indicatingposition;

Fig.7 is-a vertical section thereof taken on line 1" in Fig; 6; and

Fig 8-is a: viewxcor-responding.toithat shownin v; Fig's'l, with the signalarm shown in the same signal-indicating:positionaindicated in Figahwith' alternative. signalsindicating: positions being shown: insdot-dashslines. 7

Referring to. Fig. 1 cr me drawings, designates-- a.conc.ealed. signaling device-mounted in the side of an automobile. usually-in ahollowspace-Z .providedin the frameand sidelconstruction thereof,- and ,as :shown; in: the -specific embodiment herein illustrated, I may operate said signal deviceby suction preferablyirom the intake manifold .3 I of. the automobile-engine. Theoperation. of the signaldevice is automatically controlledby valve mechanism working in conjunction with a foot' brake lever 4, hand lever means located adjacent the automobile steering .wheel 5 and engine 6."

The signal indicator. and the .direct operatingmeans therefor maycomprise a semaphore' arm I mounted on a shaft 8, journaled on bearings 9 formed in a casing l9 provided with a slot II in the forward face thereof through which said arm may extend in signal indicating position. It will be apparent from consideration of these figures, that the arm 1 is adapted to assume any desired position with respect to the vertical, to indicate the vehicle Operators intended change in the operation of the vehicle. Three arm signals are customarily employed in automobile operation; the operator generally indicating a contemplated stop or deceleration by extending his left arm (assuming a left-hand driven vehicle) in a downwardly inclined position; a left turn by extending the left arm horizontally outward, and a right turn by extending the arm in an upwardly inclined position. These positions are indicated in Figs. 1 and 8 at'R, L, and S respectively. It will be appreciated that in any locality where custom has established-signal indications other than the above, the associated'parts of the present described mechanism may be re-associated in their correct relation to the desired signals.

The operating means for the semaphore arm 1 may comprise a plurality of vacuum-operated cylinders 8, 9, and It), provided with pistons ll, l2, and I3 respectively as shown in Fig. 5, three separate cylinders and pistons are provided for the three described signal positions, and in order to raise a semaphore arm I to the required distance or elevation to indicate the desired signal, I so arrange the length of the piston rods l4, l5, and I6, so that the respective pistons II, l2, and I3 are disposed at different distances from the bottom of the respective cylinders. The rightturn indicating position R requires the greatest downward movement, and the piston llis thus provides the signal for stopping or deceleration of the vehicle is provided with a relatively short stroke, as by being positioned near the bottom of the cylinder l0.

The piston rods I4, I 5, and 6 are secured to chain belts l1, l8, and I9 by means of journals 20, 2|, and 22, respectively. The chain belts wrap around and mesh with sprocket wheels 23, 24, and 25 which are carried by and freely rotatable on a rotatable shaft 26. Rigidly mounted on the center or hub portion of the respective sprockets are outwardly disposed driving arms 21, 28, and 29 being held securely in position by means of screw bolts 30, 3|, and 32 respectively. Onto shaft 26, collars 33, 34, and 35 are tightly and non-rotatably pressed or keyed into their respective operating positions, each collar being provided with stop pins 36, 31, and 38 which may engage with the driving arms 21, 28, and 29.

The cylinders 8, 9, and ID are mounted securely, preferably on a rectangular base 39, usually being welded inposition to effect an airtight mounting as at 46, although the cylinders may be made integrally with and including the base portion such as of cast iron or the like.

*4I designates a metallic case usually mounted in a convenient and inconspicuous space which may be provided interiorly of or below the body of the automobile, preferably adjacent the side portion thereof. To the bottom of the case 45, the base 39 may be anchored by utilizing suction line 7 split type and maintains longitudinal positioning of the shaft in the case in association with a coupling 49 which is non-rotatably mounted on the opposite extremities of the shaft 26. Pins 50, 5|, and 52 are also provided in the shaft and are adapted to maintain longitudinal alignment of thesprocket wheels 23, 24, and 25 respectively.

A rotatable shaft 53 may be mounted in a journal 54, the journal being bolted to a suitable portion of the automobile construction by means of bolts 55 and 56 respectively, preferably to an upright strut or door pillar designated by the numeral 51. A coupling member 58 is non-rotatably mounted on one extremity of the shaft 53, usually being pressed tightly into position. Interposed between the adjacent faces of coupling members 49 and 58, a flexible coupling disc 59 is employed to transmit rotation from shaft 26 to shaft 53. A plurality of screws 69 are employed to bolt the disc securely in operative position.

A lower sprocket wheel 6| is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 53, and a chain belt 62 is wrapped around and meshed with the sprocket wheel 6|. An upper sprocket wheel 63 is journaled on a shaft 64 and is rotatably mounted in the side walls of easing I0. A chain belt 65 is wrapped around and meshed with sprocket wheel 63. I provide a tension rod 66, which is pivotally secured at one end to the inner extremity of 'chain belt 65, and to the outer extremity of belt 62. An associated tension rod 6! is provided, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the outer extremity of the chain belt 65 and the. lower end is pivotally secured to the inner extremity of chain belt 62. The lengths of the respective rods are such as to create a slight tension on the respective chain belts, this feature being more clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. Onto the hub portion 68 of the sprocket wheel 63, the semaphore arm 1 is nonrotatably secured in position in the present instance by electric welding as at 69. An aperture Hlis provided in the arm 1, into which a pivot pin H is journaled. A sprocket wheel 12 is rotatably mounted preferably in the upper portion of casing H] by means of journal shaft 13 which is rotatably mounted in the walls of case l0. Into a side wall of the case In an anchor 14 is rigidly mounted to which one extremity of a tension spring 15 is secured. A chain belt 16 is wrapped around and meshed with the sprocket wheel 12, one end link in the said chain belt being secured to the upper extremity of the tension spring 15, and the end link on the opposite end of the chain being pivotally attached to one extremity of a connecting bar 11, the said bar being pivotally mounted at its opposite extremity to the pivot pin H, vent over-travel in the right turn or R position of the semaphore arm 1, I provide stops or rods l8 and 19 which are interposed between and secured to the pivot pin H, and to the outer extremity of the chain belt 62. Heads and 8| are provided on the inner extremities of their To prerespective rods and serve as abutments or stops semaphore arm I has. been reached at which point the heads 89 and 8| engage tightly against the sleeve 82., as is clearly illustrated in dot-dash lines in the R position. of Fig. 8 of the drawings. When the semaphore 1 is in the R position, or has reached the extreme point of upward movement, the chain belt 16 has wrapped around the arcuate end portion of the semaphore. The tension spring 15 sets up a constant torque load on the hub and arm'portion of the arm 1, thereby causing an. instantaneous and accelerated return of the arm towardnormal or non-indicating position.

The vacuum or suction power is obtained from the suction of the automobile engine and in the present instance through the medium of. the intake manifold 3, the connection 83 being attached thereto.

To prevent loss of vacuum in the vacuum .system,-*a suitable check valve 84 may be provided in the connection 83. A' vacuum reserve tank 85 is provided and is usually mounted on the underside of the automobile in any convenient and advantageous location. To establish communication between the vacuum supply lines and the cylinders 8, 9, and I'll a distributor'valve' 86' is provided. and may be mounted on a steering column bracket 81. A connection 88 is interposed between the distributor valve 86 and the main supply line 83. Connections 99 and 9| respectively establish communications between the distributor valve 8-6 and cylinders 8 and 9, and 92 designates a connection to cylinder number [9.

Automatic operation of the stop signal or the S position in Figs. 1 and. 8- may be provided by means of a control valve 94 which is actuated bymeans ofv an arcuatearm 95 pivotally mounted on a rotatable shaft 96 which is associated with the control valve 94. A suitable tension spring 9! is provided to bias the arcuate arm 95 against the foot lever 4. When the foot lever is depressed to operating position, the arcuate arm 95 will be actuated and assume a position that will open a port in the control valve 94, thereby establishing a suction communication in the cylinder 19.

The control means for operating the distributor valve 86 comprises a suitable movable manual lever 98 which is non-rotatably mounted on a short shaft 99 pivotally secured to and journaled in the steering column bracket 81 at its lower journal portion, and to a steering column bearing I08 at its upper journal portion. The lever 98 is preferably-provided with a projecting end portion it! for engagement by the hand of the operator.

A control means including the lever 98 may correspond to the control means shown more particularly in Figs. 1 through 4 of the above-mentioned copending application Ser. No. 23,560, in which case an automatic return of the valve means to neutral position is secured when the desired turning movement is completed by the vehicle. It will be appreciated that fully manual control means may be employed in the present invention, wherefore the valve means 86 is placed in position to connect the proper cylinder 8 or 9 with the suction supply lines to cause the semaphore arm to raise to the L or R. position by a manual movement, and a succeeding manual movement is employed to return the valve means 86 to neutral position at the will of the operator. In Fig. 1 the manual lever 98 is shown in full line position such as to cause the signal means to move to the delineated L signal position, and the neutral position and right-hand signal position are shown in dot-dash lines.

In the operation of the invention, the operator of the automobile sets the lever 98 prior to making a right-hand turn, which opens the dis tributor valve for establishing power suction communication to the cylinder 8 from the intake manifold and vacuum reserve tank 89. With the suction force applied, the piston It quickly responds and travels substantially to the bottom of the cylinder; the movement of the piston rod M in turn causes the movement of the driving arm 21 into engagement with stop pin 38, thereby rotating. shafts 28,. 53, and 64' through the chain belts, 92" and '65, thereby imparting sufiicient movement to raise the semaphore arm 1 to the R; position indicated by the dot-dash lines in Fig. .8.

Operation of semaphore for the left or L position will be understood to be comparable to the above except the distributor valve 86 establishes vacuum communication with cylinder 9 instead of with cylinder 8.

When the lever 98 is in a neutral or central position and braking action is applied to the foot lever 4, the arcuate arm 95 automatically actuates the control valve 94 and establishes suctioncommunication in the connection leading to the cylinder Ill. The action of the piston and associatedmembers in raising the semaphore arm 1 to the stop orS position is comparable to the movements described herein for the righ turn.

The return movement of the semaphore arm is automatic in action as the arcuate arm 95 follows the pedal movement thereby setting the control valve 94 to aneutral position which would permit atmospheric pressure to enter the ports and connection 92 which leads to cylinder I0, the tension spring 15 serving to return the semaphore arm in the same manner as above described.

It will be appreciated that the operating means for the semaphore arm may be located at any desired remote position with respect to the semaphore arm assembly, having reference to the particular installation problem in a particular vehicle, and that the driving connection between the operating means and the lower sprocket wheel 6| may be secured through any desired form of flexible coupling means, such as universal joints or a flexible shaft. The chain belts 62 and 63, together with the tension rods 66 and 61 function after the manner of a belt which is crossed in the present embodiment to secure the desired direction of rotation of the upper sprocket 63 which carries the semaphore arm I. It will be appreciated that where the operating means is such as to cause rotation of the shaft 53 in a direction opposite to that shown, the crossing of the tension rods will be omitted. It will further be appreciated that a continuous chain may be provided in place of the chain belts 92-63 and tension rods 66-61, the provision of the tension rods being primarily for the purpose of reducing the expense of construction, inasmuch as the only portions of the system which must necessarily be of a chain structure are those portions which actually engage the sprockets GI and 63.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a semaphore signal for automobiles; a vertical casing open at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft in the upper part of said casing and located substantially in parallelism with said driving shaft above the latter, sprocket wheels on said shafts, a semaphore arm carried by the upper shaft sprocket wheel, an endless chain element trained around said sprocket wheels and having aportion moving downwardly to effect swinging movement of the arm outwardly of the casing, and an arm movement limiting device connecting the downwardly moving portion of said chain element and' the arm.

2. In a semaphore signal for automobiles; a vertical casing open at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft in the upper part of said casing and located substantially in parallelism with said driving shaft above the latter, sprocket wheels on said shafts, a semaphore arm carried by the upper shaft sprocket wheel, an endless chain element trained around said sprocket wheels and having a portion moving downwardly to effect swinging movement of the arm outwardly of the casing, an arm movement limiting device connecting the downwardly moving portion of said chain element and the arm, and spring means connecting said casing and arm and urging said arm to housed position in the casing.

3. In a vehicle signal indicator including a vertically disposed semaphore casing having a vertically disposed slot in the outwardly disposed face thereof and a semaphore arm pivoted therein near the upper end thereof and adapted to be concealed when in a retracted position within the said casing, a belt mechanism in connection with said arm and a variable stroke vacuum power unit connected with the belt mechanism for actuating the semaphore arm, and an arresting member interposed between said belt mechanism and said semaphore arm and connecting the same together to arrest the outward travel of the semaphore arm when reaching a predetermined position.

4. In a semaphore signal for automobiles; a vertical casing open at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft in the upper part of said casing and located substantially in parallelism with said driving shaft above the latter, sprocket wheels on said shafts, a semaphore arm carried by the upper shaft sprocket wheel, an endless chain element trained around said sprocket wheels and having a portion moving downwardly to efiect swinging movement of the arm outwardly of the casing, a pair of rods having lapping ends in side-by-side relation and the other ends being pivoted respectively to the arm and the downwardly moving portion of the chain element, the lapping ends being provided with terminal enlargements, and a sleeve surrounding said lapping ends. 1

5. In a semaphore signal for automobiles; a vertical casing open at one side, a driving shaft, a driven shaft in the upper part of said casing and located substantially in parallelism with said driving shaft above the latter, sprocket wheels on said shafts, a semaphore arm carried by the upper shaft sprocket wheel, an endless chain element trained around said sprocket wheels and having a portion moving downwardly to effect swinging movement of the arm outwardly of the casing, a pair of rods having lapping ends in sideby-side relation and the other ends being pivoted respectively to the arm and the downwardly moving portion of the chain element, the lapping ends being provided with terminal enlargements, a sleeve surrounding said lapping ends, and spring means connecting said casing and arm and urging said arm to housed position in the casing.

VICTOR CRANFORD. 

